MCINTOSH, BLACKBOURN LEAD SWANS PAST SAINTS; 75-19

MCINTOSH, BLACKBOURN LEAD SWANS PAST SAINTS; 75-19

Ben McIntosh brushed back illness to help lead the St. Petersburg Swans to a convincing victory over the Miami Saints in Game Two of the MLF Showdown Carnival, Saturday in St. Petersburg. PHOTO: KATE MATSON

Ben McIntosh and Jason Blakbourn lit the first fuse of an explosive Swans offensive performance, lifting St. Petersburg to a 1.10.5.75 – 3.1.19 torching of the Miami Saints in breathtaking Florida heat, Saturday in St. Pete.

Entering Game Two of the Major League Footy Showdown Carnival in need of at least one – and probably two – wins to save their once-promising season, the Swans were also still shaking off a 51-point defeat to the Saints in Ft. Lauderdale earlier this summer.

With the ‘Florida Derby’ between the cross-state rivals knotted one win apiece, St.

St. Petersburg ruck Jason Blackbourn set the tone for the Swans’ 75-19 win over Miami Saturday, winning all four taps to set up the St. Pete charge. PHOTO: KATE MATSON

Petersburg wasted little time extracting revenge for their June 23 loss at Croissant Park.

Jumping out to 25-0 lead before the Saints were able to right their ship and establish an attack punctuated by the circuit’s Number 2 scorer Neil Cohen, the Swans took a 5.2.32 – 3.1.19 lead into the break.

While McIntosh, Blackbourn and forward Aaron Crittenden would continue to light up the scoreboard, a weary Saints side was kept off the ledger in the second half.

A McIntosh super goal punctuated a 1.5.3.43 – 0 second stanza that capped the rout for hosting St. Petersburg.

Battling a stomach ailment in the early going, McIntosh recovered quickly, adding to his monumental MLF Scoring lead.

The result pushed St. Pete to 6-3 entering the final match of the Showdown Carnival, with both the Swans and Florida Lions seeking a win to advance into the MLF Championship Finals.

Miami finishes the 2018 Major League Footy Premiership Season with a 4-2 mark. The Saints’ only two losses were to the Blackbourn-led Swans, as Miami defeated the Lions, Clearwater Kangasand Starfish FCon the year.